As a millennial whose first experience with beauty began in the early 00s, I'll be honest by admitting that I had a bit of a fascination with celebrity perfumes.
While I haven't exactly bought one as a fully fledged 31 year-old woman, I, like many others, have become a bit of a Sabrina Carpenter fan this year. So, when I heard that one of pop's biggest stars had just dropped a new perfume, suffice to say I listened.
The pint-sized hitmaker's 'Cherry Baby' is the third fragrance in her bestselling Sweet Tooth fragrance collection. With cherry-scented fragrances being 'in' for autumn 2024, I wasn't surprised that the blonde bombshell hadn't gotten in on the trend.
Exclusively available to Superdrug, the "fierce" fragrance is priced at £24.99 for a 30ml bottle, while a larger 75ml bottle costs £39.99. However, owing to the singer's popularity, stock is "limited" after her second fragrance, Caramel Dream, sold 22 bottles an hour.
As someone who had 'Espresso' on repeat this summer, I was excited to get my hands on the lucrative celebrity perfume to find out if Sabrina's playful attitude we have come to love her for translates to her Cherry Baby perfume.
Playful scent and bold bottle
As someone who tends to prefer fragrances with spicy or woody undertones, I was a little hesitant when sampling Cherry Baby, with fears that it would be 'overly sweet' and something more suited to teenage girls.
Luckily, its main notes of glazed cherries and apples are turned into something less saccharine with the addition of dark chocolate, giving this fun perfume a bit of an edgy twist. Meanwhile, further notes of red poppy, vanilla, musk, cashmere wood and patchouli make this more sophisticated of someone in my age group.
It's not just the fragrance that was playful, as its housed in the collection's trademark chocolate-bar shaped bottle that just looks good enough to eat. With its rich red shade, the bottle doesn't come across as a cheap gimmick, but something both bold and elegant.
A rich perfume for all ages
On giving this perfume a quick first spritz, I was surprised to find that it was actually quite vibrant and rich. Unlike some celeb perfumes, it wasn't watered down and cloying with just notes of candy and fruits.
As vibrant as it was, I did notice that the sugary sweet notes of cherry and apples were arguably the most dominant, overpowering any of the more sensual notes I was really interested in. That being said, it's irresistibly fun and is perfect for lifting up your mood on a cold autumn day.
As winter approaches, those prone to dry skin will be seeking a cream that locks in moisture. Lucky for beauty buffs, a moisturiser beloved by Victoria Beckham has been hailed as a "must have" for the colder months - and it's budget friendly.
The Weleda Skin Food Moisturiser, first introduced in 1926, has gained a cult following and A-list fans for its ability to keep skin "nourished" and "dewy". The highly sought-after cream, blended with wild pansy, chamomile, and calendula, is a "saviour" for dry skin sufferers - plus it's a multi-tasker, suitable as a moisturiser, soothing face mask, and makeup primer.
The 75ml tube is available on Amazon for £7.46, a fantastic 38 percent off the RRP. Boots offers the same size for £11.21, while Superdrug sells it at a much more expensive £14.95, making Amazon the place to go.
With its soaring popularity, Skin Food has racked up a stellar 4.6 rating on Amazon, thanks to over 33,000 glowing reviews from beauty aficionados who rave about its "super hydrating" properties, deeming it a "must have at all times".
One satisfied customer enthused: "This is a great moisturiser. It smells lovely and has a creamy/thick consistency. I found that it eliminated dry skin very well with only a little amount of moisturiser needed. It is a really great moisturiser, very good at nourishing your skin, especially if you suffer from dry skin. Highly recommend."
For ultimate hydration and protection against cold weather, you can grab the Weleda Skin Food for just £7.46 on Amazon here.
If you're a bit like me, and worried that the tartness of the red fruit would be too sickly sweet, you're in luck, as it does mellow down into something softer with time. Over the course of the day, you begin to get the cosier scents of red poppy and vanilla, both which offer a warming aroma that everyone of all age groups can pretty much enjoy.
However, its eventually softer scent is where I noticed the only drawback with the Cherry Baby Perfume. After wearing it for a whole day, I did notice that it was pretty faint after a couple of hours, although not entirely non-existent, but you certainly need another spray to 'boost' it back up.
Overall thoughts
So, does the singer's third fragrance in her fast-selling Sweet Tooth Collection live up to the hype?
Well, as a self-confessed Sabrina Carpenter fan, I can safely say that it lives up to her own reputation. From its adorable chocolate-shaped bottle, to its fun and sensual notes, it's definitely a fragrance that makes you feel more positive when wearing it.
As a fragrance enthusiast, I think Cherry Baby is an improvement on some of the celebrity perfumes I grew up with in the early 00s. Its vibrant scent that softens into something cosier with wear makes it a versatile bottle that everyone can enjoy this autumn, no matter the age group.
That being said, perfume lovers who prefer a more long-lasting scent might not be satisfied with the longevity of the scent. It's also worth noting that the sweeter scent of glazed cherries does overpower the other notes, which means fans of spicier, more woody perfumes might not be as taken with it.
As for myself, my overall thoughts are mostly positive. While it wouldn't be my usual go-to perfume, you can't deny that there is something uplifting about the sweeter scent of this perfume and, quite frankly, one small spritz is enough to brighten any dark mood during the cold autumn and winter evenings.
While it is a newly released scent, I wanted to see if any shoppers had any criticisms, but so fat I've yet to find a bad review about it online.
So, if you're looking for something that's going to add some warmth and joy to the upcoming miserable weather, then get yourself a bottle of Cherry Baby from Superdrug while there's still stock available.
If Cherry Baby doesn't sound like your scene, Jo Malone's new Fir and Artemisia Cologne is a limited edition festive fragrance with herbal notes of Artemisia and fir. A more floral alternative is Jimmy Choo's Flash, which retails for £55 at Boots.
You can purchase the Cherry Baby EDP exclusively from Superdrug. A 30ml bottle is priced at £24.99, while a 75ml bottle is priced at £39.99.
Get the latest money news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our Record Money newsletter.